Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Penitentiary, Inmate Index Cards for Misdemeanants & Felons, 1926-1949. Accession 30769, State Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Department of Corrections on February 21, 1980.

Historical Information

Although the Virginia State Penitentiary was built in Richmond in 1797, a statewide penal system was not developed until over a century later. An act passed by the General Assembly on March 13, 1908, created the Board of Charities and Corrections to administer the penitentiary and several penal farms. On February 27, 1922, the General Assembly passed an act that created the Board of Public Welfare and merged the Board of Charities and Corrections with it. The state government reorganization act passed on April 18, 1927, created the Department of Public Welfare to administer the prison system. Legislation approved March 13, 1942, created both the Department of Corrections and the Parole Board as independent agencies. Corrections departments were merged into the Department of Welfare and Institutions by a government reorganization act approved by the General Assembly on March 30, 1948. This department remained intact until March 9, 1974, when the General Assembly passed an act dividing it into the Department of Welfare, now the Department of Social Services and the Department of Corrections. Three major responsibilities were given to the Department of Corrections: youth, adult services, and probation and parole services.

Scope and Content Information

These index cards of misdemeanants and felons include the following information: name, registration number, race, finger print classification, crime committed, term, date received, received from, term expiration, jail time served, criminal history, clothing sizes, spouse, parents, siblings, and person to notify in case of an emergency.

Arrangement

The cards are arranged alphabetically by last name. The letters A, G and I are missing.